Label-attaching machine



S. R. THAYER.

LABEL ATTAOHING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3 (No Model.)

' S. R. THAYER.

LABEL ATTAOHING MACHINE.

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(No Model.)

s. R. THAYER. LABEL ATTAOHING MACHINE,

No. 554,012. Patented Feb. 4, 1896 mmmxxamzmgmaxxxx ZZG 3 5,.

A an B.GRAHAM.F)10T0 LFTHO.WASHINGTONj c -NlThD STATES TATENT lFFIcE.

SILAS R. THAYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LABEL-ATTACHING MACHINE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,012, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed March 7, 1893. Serial No. 4:65.004. (N model.)

To all whmn it may concern.-

lle it known that I, SILAS R. THAYER, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in Label-Attaching Machines; and I do hereby declare that the fol: lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for at taching labels to various kinds of receptacles, such as cans, bottles, &c., either of cylindrical or other analogous forms which will permit the receptacles to progress by a rolling movement, and as distinguished from receptacles of square or angular form, such as preeludes a rolling thereof.-

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to produce a label-attaching machine in which the weight of the receptacles which are being operated upon may alone furnish the power for effecting certain of the leading operative movements of the machine; secondly, to

produce a label-attaching machine in which,

after alabelhas been attached to a receptacle, the latter will be revolved on its longitudinal axis and subjected to external pressure, whereby a close and perfect adhesion of the label to the receptacle is effected and the presence of air-bubbles between the label and the receptacle will be wholly prevented; thirdly, to produce a labelattaching machine into which the receptacles to be labeled shall automatically pass, one at a time, by virtue of their own weight, and which shall be provided, also, with a stop mechanism (preferably operated, also, by the weight of the receptacles) to insure an automatic one-byone feed of the receptacles; fourthly, to provide a receptacle for the labels, located in the path of movement of the entering receptacles, and provided with means for automatically maintaining the top label at or near the level of the path of movement of the receptacles, so that the top label will invariably be properly presented to the receptacle, and may thus be in position to be caught or taken up and wrapped properly around the same; fifthly, to provide attachments whereby the incoming receptacle shall, before reachcoating of adhesive material, that the label.

may properly adhere to the receptacle; seventhly, to produce a simple, durable, yet inexpensive machine, not liable to easily get out of order and capable of being run at a relatively high speed and yet preserve its various automatic features.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described and claimed, the nature of which will be better understood when described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a label-at taching machine embodying my invention. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the carrier-wheel, looking at the rim of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a part of the carrier-wheel, taken on the line 4 40f Fig. 5, the direction of view being to the right, as indicated by the arrow applied to the section-line. Fig. 5isa vertical section of a part of the carrier-wheel, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, the direction of view being to the right, as indicated by the arrow applied to the section-line. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the machine, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2, the direction of view being toward the rear end of the machine, as indicated by the arrow applied to the section-line. Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, the direction of view being toward the front end of the machine, as indicated by the arrow applied to the sectionline. Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, the direction of view being toward the rear end of the machine-frame, as indicated by the arrows applied to the section-line. an enlarged transverse vertical section of a part of the machine, taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section of a part of the machine, taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a hori- Fig. 9 is IOO zontal section of the labelleveling attachments, taken on the line 11 12 of Fig. 10, the direction of view being downward, as indicated by the arrow applied to the section-line, and

the divided nut being closed. Fig. 12 is also a horizontal section taken on the line 11 12 of Fig. 10, the direction of view being also downward and the divided nut being opened. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detached View in side elevation of the label-leveling attachments, showing a modified form of actuating wheel. Fig. 14 is an enlarged transverse vertical section of the label-leveling attachments, taken on the line 11 11 of Fig. 13, the direction of view being toward the front end of the machine, as indicated by the arrow applied to the section-line. Fig. 15 is an enlarged plan view of the secondary stop-slide and the adjacent parts of the machineframe. is a transverse vertical section of the secondary stop-slide, taken on the line 16 10 of Fig. 15, the direction of view being toward the rear end of the machine, as indicated by the arrows applied to the section-line. Fig. 17 is a detached view, enlarged, of one of the carriers which are connected to the carrier-wheel, showing an additional arm for actuating the wheel shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 18 is an enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section of the primary stop mechanism and the first pasteapplying roll, showing a can or receptacle in contact with the latter. Fig. 19 is a view of the same parts as are shown in Fig. 18, a can or receptacle being shown as pass ing rearwardly away from the paste roll. Fig. 20 is an enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section of the pastebrush mechanism, one of the brushes being shown as applying paste to the rear or inner end of the top label. Fig. 21 is a similar view of the parts shown in Fig. 90, the brushes being shown as out of contact with the top label and a can or receptacle being shown as leaving the label-holder with a label-wrapper around it.

In the said drawings, A designates the top or bed of the machine-frame, this top or bed being shown as of oblong rectangular form placed horizontally at a suitable height and as supported at its ends by vertical standards A. The top or bed A is, of course, of any suitable length commensurate with the kinds of receptacles to be operated upon and at its front or receiving end carries a feed-board B. The feed-board B is preferably a metal plate, although it may, of course, be of wood, if preferred, and is of approximately oblong rectangular form. Said feed-board is of considerably more than one-half of the length of the bed A and extends longitudinally thereof from the front end of said bed toward the rear end thereof and is pivoted at its inner end upon the bed A, as shown at b. Beneath the front or outer end of this feed-board B is located a vertical adjusting-screw B, which extends upward through a supporting-bracket Z) secured t0 the under side of the front end of the Fig. 16

{ bed A, and which carries at its lower end a hand-wheel The upper end of the adjusting-screw B impinges against the under side of the feed-board and the arrangement is such that by turning the adj usting-serewB in one or the opposite direction, the front end of the feed-board B can be elevated or depressed so as to impart precisely the required rearward and downward inclination of the feed-board for properly admitting the receptacles to the machine by gravity. Intermediately of its ends the feed-board B is provided with a eavity or holder B for the labels, suitable side pieces depending from the margins of this cax ity and embracing a vertically-movable bottom B", said side pieces 0* also extending through the bed A of the machine. To the underside of the movable bottom B is secured a bracket B", preferably of semicircular form, as shown, and through a nut (to be presently more fully described) which is located midway of the length of the bracket 13" works a vertical adjusting screw 13". This ad justingscrew B is supported in the lower part of a second bracket, 13, preferably also of semicircular form, which is secured to the under side of the adjacent part of the feed-board B. The adjustingscrew extends downward through the middle of the bracket B and carries at its lower end a beveled gear 11 meshing with a similar beveled gear, 12 which is carried by an actuating-shaft B This shaft i B extends horizontally beneath the bracket B and is journaled at its ends in the lower 1 ends of two hangers B the upper ends of which are secured to two opposite sides I) of the cavity B At one end the shaft B protrudes beyond the adjacent arm of the bracket B and carries either a sprocket-wheel B or a star-wheel B Figs. 13 and 1- as hereinafter described.

The adjusting-screw B turns freely in the lower part of the bracket B, but does not move vertically therein, while the bracket B" with its bottom piece B is raised upon the adj Listing-screw by turning said screw. To produce this vertical movement of the bracket B, in consequence of the turning of the adj usting-screw B 1 have shown a divided nut as embracing said screw, said nut being composed of two sections B connected together pivotally at two of their adjacent ends by a pin 0 which also passes through the lower part of the bracket 13' so as to connect the nut to the bracket. The opposite adjacent ends of the sections B carry arms I)" by which said sections are moved to open and close the nut, and when closed a pin (2 is inserted removably through eyes I) in the ends of the nutsections, as shown. Thus, after the bottom piece B= has been raised as far as may be desired, the divided nut is opened and the bottom piece with its bracket B is lowered to its starting position.

The inner or rear end B of the feed-board B is inclined upwardly and rearwardly with reference to the plane of the remainder of the feed-board, this inclined portion B being located just back of the cavity 13 and its purpose being to arrest the advance rolling movement of the can or receptacle as hereinafter more fully explained. WVhile this inclined portion B is shown as integral with the feedboard it is clearly obvious that the inclined portion may be separate from the feed-board and either carried rigidly by the bed A or placed adj ustably upon said bed, so that its degree of inclination may be varied as desired.

Upon the bed or top A of the machine, at a point just in front of the label-holder or cavity B are secured two vertical upwardly-extending adjustable standards 0, which are located at opposite sides of the bed A and which are of such form and dimensions as to support the primary stop and paste-deli verin g mechanism. Between these two standards 0 is placed a vertically-movable horizontal stop-slide D, having outwardly-extending re duced ends (Z which work in vertical guideslots 0 in the standards 0. An arm (1 extends vertically upward from the stop-slide D midway of the length of the same and works through a guide-lug d which is carried by a horizontal supporting-bar (1 said bar connecting the standards 0 together at their front sides, and also serving to brace said standards laterally. A spiral expansion-spring d surrounds the arm (1 and is interposed between the stopslide D and the guide-lug (Z and this spring serves to normally retain the stop-slide at the lower limit of its movement. An opening 61 is formed through the stopslide D at one side of the middle thereof, and into this opening fits loosely and removably the front end of a locking-bar. D, to be hereinafter more fully described.

Near the rear end of the bed or top A of the machine is located an opening a, and immediately to the rear of this opening is placed the secondary stop-s1ide E. This stop-slide is of elongated form and extends'horizontally of the bed A, the front margin of the slide constituting, practically, the rear margin of the opening a. The ends 6 of this slide work in suitable horizontal guide grooves or slots 6 in the inner sides of the side pieces of the bed A, and from a rearward extension 6,

vmidway of the length of the slide, extends rearwardly an arm 6 The rear or outer end of this arm 6 works loosely through a suitable guide-opening in the rear crossbar, a, of the bed A. A spiral expansion-spring e surrounds the arm 6 and is interposed between the front side of the cross-bar a and the rear end of the extension 6, and said spring serves to hold the stop-slide E normally at the forward limit of its movement. The locking-bar D is of such length as to extend from the primary stop-slide D to the secondary stop-slide E, said bar extending longitudinally of the bed A, at one side thereof, and working longitudinally through suitable guide-brackets a at the side of the bed.

The bar D extends inward at right angles at its front and rear ends, the rear extremity of the bar being permanently connected to the secondary stop-slide E and the front extremity of said bar projecting forward and removably entering the opening (1 of the primary stop-slide, as before stated. The arrangement is such that when the secondary slide E is at the forward limit of its movement the front end of the locking-bar D is within the opening 61 and the primary stopslide. D cannot rise. lrVhen the secondary stop is moved rearward, however, the front end of the locking-bar D is drawn out of the opening (1 in the slide D, and said slide is free to be raised, as hereinafter more fully explained. The secondary stop slide E is locked in its forward position by a pendent pin 6 the lower end of which enters a recess or opening in the extension 6. The pin e is carried by a horizontal retaining-bar E,which is vertically movable in guides e secured to the sides of the bed A, and near one end the bar E carries a'pendent arm e preferably provided at its lower end with a roller 6", as shown. The opposite end of the bar E may be pivotally connected, as at a to the corresponding guide a, and the bar E is lifted at times by contact with arms or projections e on a carrier-wheel, as hereinafter more fully explained, so as to raise the pin a out of engagement with the slide E, and thus permit said slide to be moved rearwardly.

Upon the upper ends of the standards 0 is mounted a reservoir or fountain F for paste or other suitable adhesive material,such m aterial being delivered through the bottom of the fountain upon a transfer-roll E, which is journaled horizontally just beneath the fountainbottom and in the standards 0. The transfer-roll F supplies the paste or adhesive material to a delivery-roll F which is also j ournaled in the standards 0 just below the transfer-roll F, and said delivery-roll delivers the paste upon the can or receptacle, as hereinafter fully explained.

At one end the spindle of the transfer-roll F protrudes beyond the corresponding standard O and carries a'sprocket-wheel f, and at its adjacent end the spindle of the deliveryroll protrudes also beyond the standard 0 and carries a similar sprocket-wheel f, a driving sprocket-chain G leading over these sprocket-wheels and actuating the rolls, as also hereinafter fully explained.

Upon the bed A, at a point just back of the label-cavity B are secured two vertical upwardly extending standards H, which are placed opposite each other at opposite-sides of the bed, and which support at their upper ends a second reservoir or fountain I for paste or similar adhesive material, said fountain delivering the adhesive material through its bottom upon a transfer-roll I, which is journaled horizontally in the standards H just beneath the fountain I. J designates a horizontal shaft which is journaled at its ends in r from the holder.

the standards I'I, considerably below the trans fer-r0111, and upon this shaft are secured,

as by a hub J 3 or in any other suitable manner, a pair of oppositely-extending radial arms J, each of said arms carrying at its outer end a brush or other suitable wiper J The spindle iof the transfer-r0111 protrudes at one end beyond the corresponding standard II and carries a double sprocket-wheel i, while the spindle j of the brush-shaft J protrudes beyond said standard and carries a single sprocket-wheelj". The sprocket-chain G before mentioned runs over the outer section of the double sprocket-wheel L" and drives the same, while a sprocket-chain Gr extends over the inner section of the double sprocketwheel i and under the single sprocket-wheel j and transmits the movement of the roller 1 to the shaft J. The position of the shaft J and the length of the brush-arms J are such that the brushes pass lightly in contact with the under surface of the transfer-roll I and also similarly in contact with the rear end of the top label in the holder B the brushes passing forwardly beneath the transfer-roll I and rearwardly over the rear end of the top label, and thus at each revolution taking a quantity of paste from the transfer-roll and delivering it upon the rear end of the uppermost label in the label-holder B so as to insure the adhesion of said end of the label, as also hereinafter more fully explained.

K designates the carrier-wheel of the machine, this wheel being mounted vertically beneath the rear end of the bed A and being shown as journaled in bearings at the upper ends of two posts or standards K, which are located vertically beneath the bed A. To the periphery of this carrier-wheel are secured at suitable regular intervals a plurality of holders or carriers L for the cans or receptacles, each of said holders consisting of a U shaped bar or frame shown as having, midway of its length, oppositely-disposed lugs or cars which embrace the rim of the carrierwheel, and through which and the rim pass attaching pins or bolts 70. Between the inner parts of the arms of each holder-frame is journaled a roller 7:, which is thus located in the bottom of the holder. From opposite sides of each of the end arms of the holders and a retainingspring k preferably of leaf form, as shown, is secured at one end to the inner part of each end arm of each holder L, there being thus two such springs for each holder, and said springs serving to engage the ends of a can or receptacle and thus properly centering the receptacle and preventing any accidental displacement of the receptacle Obviously the frames of the holders L may be secured to the rim of the carrier-wheel K, either in the manner above described or in any other suitable manner.

Referring principally to Fig. 6 of the drawings, I will describe certain details of construction relating to the mounting of the carrier-Wheel K in the standards K. Through the hub K of the wheel K extends a spindle or shaft M, having fixed bearings, as m, on the upper ends of the standards K, so that the spindle or shaft shall be non-revoluble. The spokes of the wheel are shown as radiating from the hub K near one end thereof, and the opposite end of the hub carries a sprocket-wheel l\.[, under which is led the sprocket-chain G before referred to. Inasmuch as the power for revolving the carrierwheel may be (although it need not necessarily be) derived from the weight of the receptacles in the holders L, as hereinafter more fully described, it is desirable that the amount of friction developed in the hub of the wheel be reduced to the minimum, and to this purpose the bearing of the hub upon its spindle or shaft is preferably of any suitable antifriction or ball type. I have shown collars or washers M and retaining-nuts M as surrounding screw-threaded portions on near the ends of the shaft, so as to bring the washers closely adjacent to the ends of the hub, the ends of the hub and the inner sides of the washers M being grooved circularly to receive antifriction-balls m A brake-band M partly surrounds one end of the hub 1' one end of the band being secured to an arm M, which is secured to one of the standards K, and the other end of the band being shown as secured to one arm of a bell-crank m placed near the feet of the standards K. A rod M is shown as connected at one of its ends to the other arm of the bell-crank m and at its opposite end to a treadle M located beneath the front end of the bed A, the treadle being normally held elevated by a spring at, secured to a post or standard m so as to slacken the rod M and thus normally retain the brake-ban d off of the carrier-wheel hub.

N designates a flexible presser-band of rub ber, leather, canvas, or other suitable material, which is secured at its upper end to the bed A about midway of the length thereof, and which extends downward past the front side of the carrier-wheel K, this band passing beneath a roller n located near to the feet of the standards K and being connected at its lower end to a tension-spring N, shown as attached to a standard at, which is located in front of the roller n.

It is obvious that anysuitable form of tension device-such, for example, asa weightmay be employed to strain the presser-band N lengthwise.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows: The adjusting-screw 15 is first turned so as to give the required clownward and rearward inclination to the feedboard 13, according to the size and weight of the filled cans or receptacles. The cans or receptacles, which are designated as O, are placed side by side in a row upon the feedboard B, the rearmost receptacle resting against the primary stop-slide D, as shown in Fig. 1. At the commencement of operations the operator, after having thus placed the receptacles 0 upon the feed-board B, may then turn the carrier-wheel K forward, so as to cause one of the arms 6 to strike the wheel 6 of the retaining-bar E and raise said bar, so as to enable the operator to push the stopslide E rearward. This rearward movement of the stop-slide E withdraws the front end of the locking-bar D from the opening (1 in the primary stop-slide D, permitting the first or rearmost can or receptacle 0 to automatically raise the slide D and to roll rearwardly beneath the same. At this instant the spring (Z of the slide D depresses said slide in front of the second can or receptacle 0, and the spring 6 of the slide E forces the latter forward, pushing the front end of the lockingbar D into the opening d of the slide D and preventing another receptacle from rolling into the machine until the first receptacle 0 has pushed the slide E rearward, as will be presently explained. During the initial operations incident to starting the machine the operator will repeatedly turn the carrier-wheel K forward as soon as each succeeding receptacle 0 reaches the opening a, so as to cause the arms 6 to successively raise the retaining-bar E and permit the receptacles to force the slide E backward and then drop into the holders L. After one-half or nearly onehalf of the holders on the carrier-wheel have been filled the machine becomes entirely automatic in its action, the operator being only required to place the receptacles 0 upon the front end of the feed-board B and to replenish the labels in the holder B Assuming that the machine has begun to act automatically, each receptacle 0 rolls from the slide D beneath the distributing-roller F coming into contact with the under surface thereof and receiving upon its side a longitudinal stripe of paste. From the roller F the receptacle rolls rearwardly to the label-holder B and its stripe of paste comes into contact with the front end of the uppermost label P in said holder. The labels P are piled backs upward in the holder B and as the can or receptacle 0 rolls over the uppermost label it first attaches the front end of the label to itself and then wraps or winds the label around itself. Just before the receptacle 0 reaches therear end of the uppermost label one of the brushes J 2 applies a quantity of paste in the form of a stripe to the rear end of the label, and as the receptacle passes out of the holder B this end overlaps'or may overlap the opposite end of the label and adheres thereto or to the body of the receptacle.

When the receptacle 0 leaves the labelholder B it has gained considerable momentum, which it is desirable to lessen at this point in the travel of the receptacle. The upwardly-inclined portion B of the feedboard effects this result, and after having passed said inclined portion the receptacle 0 enters the opening a, and rests against the front margin of the slide E. The continued revolution of the carrier-wheel K brings another arm e into position to raise the retaining-bar E, and permits the receptacle 0 to force the slide E rearward and to withdraw the front end of the locking-bar D from the opening (I in the slide D. At this instant the first receptacle 0 drops into a holder L on the carrier-wheel K and a second receptacle 0 rolls beneath the stop-slide D. Owing to the poising of the carrier-wheel K and to the fact that the cans or receptacles enter the holders L in front of the vertical center of the wheel K, the weight of the receptacles keeps the wheel revolving forward and downward. As the wheel so revolves it acts to automatically raise the retaining-bar E, as above described, and through the sprocketchain G and the sprocketwheels f, f, t, and j to revolve the rollers F, F and I, and also the brush-shaft J. This sprocket-chain G also acts upon the sprocket-wheel 13 so as to revolve the feed-screw B in such manner as to raise the bottom B of the label-holder the required distance to bring the top labels in position to be caught by the passing receptacles. hen the star-wheel B (shown in Fig. 13) is used, it is engaged intermittently by an additional arm or spur 6 upon the opposite arm L (see Fig. 17) at the same side of each holder L from that which carries the arm or spur 6 thus also raising the bottom B for the purpose named. As the carrierwheel K continues to revolve, the receptacles O in the holders L at the front side of the carrier-wheel are pressed forcibly against the flexible band N in such manner as to revolve the cans or receptacles within the holders L, (the rollers and k facilitating such revolutions,) a brace K resisting the thrust against the standards. The labels are thus pressed firmly against the sides of the cans or receptacles, so as to force out all air-bubbles and to remove all creases or buckles from the labels. As soon as each can or receptacle reaches the lowest point of its travel on the wheel K it falls by its own weight'out of the holder and into a trough Q, from which the receptacles are removed by an attendant, the empty holders L being carried upward into receiving position. Bymeans of the treadle M and the brake-band M the revolution of the carrier-wheel K can be stopped or made slower in the event of the wheel speeding ahead of the feed to its holders of the cans or receptacles 0.

Obviously an additional sprocket-wheel may be mounted upon the hub of the carrierwheel K and a sprocket-chain may lead from a suitable source of power to the sprocketwheel, so that the carrier-wheel may be rotated otherwise than bythe weight of the cans alone; or any other form of actuating-gearing may obviously be applied to rotate the carrierwheel from a suitable source of power. Furthermore, it is obvious that any desired form of brake mechanism may be applied to the carrier-wheel K.

The standards C for supporting the pasteroll mechanism and the primary stop-slide may be carried by the feedboard 15, instead of by the top or bed A, so as to avoid even any possibility of the cans or receptacles O sticking beneath the distributingroll F \V hen the standards C are supported by the bed A, they may be rendered vertically extensible, as shown in Figs. 1 and S, the lower end of each standard C being adjustably connected by transverse bolts 0' to one of two short vertical standards 0 and the standards 0 being secured by bolts 0 to the bed A. The standards II, which carry the paste-brush mechanism, may also be carried by the feedboard B, or may be rendered vertically ad justable similarly as the standards C.

It will be observed that the devices for do taining the cans on the feed-table and preventing premature entrance of the can into the machine are positioned above the feedtable in order to be actuated and to be moved out of the path of the incoming cans by the passing can when the lock is withdrawn. This I regard as an important feature of my automatic machine, and do not desire to be limited to the precise vertical arrangement of said devices illustrated in the drawings.

I believe I am the first to produce a canlabeling machine constructed upon the lines and having the mode of operation herein described, and hence I do not desire to be limited to the various mechanical details illustrated and described for doing any particular work.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a label-attaching machine the combination with a feed-table, of a vertically-movable gate located above the table in the path of the incoming can and adapted to be moved out of said path by the passing can, of a locking device adapted, when in engagement with the gate, for maintaining the latter in the path of the can, and means for Withdrawing the locking device at a desired time, substantially as described.

2. In a label-attaching machine, the combination with a feed-table, of a vertically- 1 movable gate positioned above the feed-table in the path of the incoming can, a locking device for holding the gate in its normal position in said path, means for withdrawing the locking device at a desired time whereby said gate will be raised out of said path by the passing can, and means for returning said gate to its normal position in front of the next incoming can, substantially as specified.

3. In a can-labeling machine comprising a stationary frame, a stationary label-holder provided with a movable bottom, a nut secured to said bottom, an adjusting-screw rotatably secured to said frame, a revoluble ean-carrier and suitable mechanism connect ing said can-carrier and said screw for actuating the latter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

i. In a machine for applying labels to rotatable cans, the combination with the ma- 1 chine-frame, of an adjustable inclined. food table and a pasting device, adjustably supported above the feed-table in standards supporting a vertically-movable gate, whereby the adjustment of the pasting device and said gate will be simultaneously effected, substair tially as described.

5. A label-attaching machine, comprising a feed-board, a spring-returned, vertically removable front stop-slide, a spring-returned I and horizontally-movable rear stop-slide, and y a locking-bar permanently connected to the rear slide and separably connected to the front slide, substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for attaching labels to rotatable cans, the combination with a vertically-movable front stop-slide located in the path of the incoming can, of a horizontallymovable rear stop-slide, a locking -bar permanently connected to the rear slide and separably engaging the front slide, a retainingbar separably engaging the rear slide, and means for engaging and actuating said retaining-bar to unlock the rear slide, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for attaching labels to retatable cans, the combination with a suitable frame and mechanism for pasting and applying the label, of a rotating carrier-frame having pockets or recesses adapted to receive the cans, a slide adapted to detain the labeled cans in the main frame and a retaining-bar engaging said slide, provided with a depending arm or lug, said carrier-frame being also provided with projecting arms adapted severally to engage the depending arm of said bar as the carrier is rotated, whereby the detained can may by its own weight move said slide and drop from the frame into one of the pockets in the carrier, substantially as described.

S. In a label-attaching machine, the combination with mechanism for pasting and applying the label to a rotatable can, of a revo luble carrier-frame provided with a plurality of pockets or can-holders, consisting of bearing-rollers upon which the cans rest, and a flexible band arranged adjacent to and in the path of said carrier-frame, whereby the cans carried thereon will press against said band and be given thereby an independent rotary movement as the carrier rotates, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

9. A label-attaching machine for cans and other rotatable receptacles comprising means for pasting and applying the labels, a rotatable carrier, can holders or pockets mounted upon the periphery of said carrier and each I provided with antifriction-bearings adapted f to engage cans therein, and a flexible tension- IIO band so located adjacent to the carrier as to bear against the cans in said holders and thereby, as said carrier rotates, press the label firmly against the can by a rotary movement of the latter, substantially as described.

10. In a label-attaching machine, arevoluble carrier for the labeled cans provided on its periphery with a plurality of pockets, the latter consisting of rollers upon which the can rests a leaf-guiding spring at each end of the pocket engaging the end of the can, and a suitable surface in engagement with said labeled cans, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a label-attaching machine, the com bination with means for pasting and applying the labels to the cans, of a revoluble carrier adapted to receive the cans on its periphery, and arranged to be rotated by the weight of the cans thereon, a brake adapted to act on said carrier, and suitable connections whereby the label-applying mechanism is actuated by said revoluble carrier, substantially as set forth.

12. In a label-attaching machine, the combination, with means for pasting and applying the labels to the cans, of a revoluble carrier adapted to receive the cans on its periphery, and arranged to be rotated by the weight of the cans thereon, a brake adapted to act on said carrier, and a sprocket-chain connecting the carrier with the label-applying mechanism, whereby the latter is actuated, substantially as described.

13. In a machine for applying labels to cans, the combination with a revolubike can-carrier, adapted to receive the cans upon its periphery and arranged to be rotated by the weight of the cans thereon, a label-holder and labelfeeding devices, of sprocket-gears mounted upon the said feeding device and the carrier respectively, and a sprocket-chain engaging said gears, whereby the feeding of the labels is regulated by the revoluble carrier, substantially as specified.

14:. A label-attaching machine, comprising a suitable frame, an adjustably-inclined feedboard pivotally mounted thereon, a labelholder carried by the feed-board, fountainrolls for applying paste to a can mounted adjustably upon the frame, a paste-brush for applying paste to the label, also mounted upon said frame, a vertically-movable front stopslide, a horizontally-movable rear stop-slide, a locking-bar permanently connected to the rear slide and separably engaging the front slide, and means for actuating said lockingbar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a label-attaching machine, a revoluble carrier for the labeled cans provided on its periphery with a plurality of pockets, the latter consisting of rollers upon which the can rests, and a flexible surface against which the labeled cans in said pockets are pressed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

SILAS R. THAYER. Vitnesses TAYLOR E. BROWN, J NO. L. OoNDRoN. 

